The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs recently designated Washington as one of a handful of new communities that will be listed as an official Iowa Great Place. Iowa Great Places have collectively received more than $22 million in state support while leveraging millions more in local investments since the program started in 2005. Funding for the program comes from the Iowa Legislature through an annual appropriation from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien says that while the funding is nice, the designation confirms what he already knew.

“In addition to some of the monies that will be made available through a grant cycle, we are just even more on the radar as an official Great Place in Iowa. I’ve always thought Washington was a great place, and this recognition just puts it front and center so that we can share just how great our community is.”  

This is the second time Washington has applied to be designated as an Iowa Great Place, and this second application has been over a two-year process that has experienced multiple delays. Mayor Rosien believes that while these unplanned delays may have led to a heightened level of anxiousness while waiting for the final verdict, he believes everything worked out to Washington’s benefit in the end.

“I was personally not frustrated at all. I think the decision to do a designation cycle instead of a grant cycle was the best decision for the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to make. It benefits us because they got the grant cycle done, and we were able to get designated.”

For more information about the designation, contact the City of Washington.